Open gallery
Dear Brockport Community:
There are currently 43 known positive cases amongst our campus population. 24 of those are residential students who are currently isolating in our Isolation and Quarantine facilities. Additionally, this morning we’ve learned of 11 new positive student pools from Monday’s pool testing. These individuals are quarantining as a precaution until we receive reflex results from Upstate Medical.
It’s important to note that while we have an increase in positive cases, our overall COVID positivity rate among all students, faculty, and staff remains at 0.28% for the past 14-day period and well under the new state guidance of 5%. Our 7-day positive rate is at 0.44% as compared with the positivity rate in our region of 2.3%.
Regardless, we will continue to take swift action to address any increases in cases by isolating and quarantining students as needed, and conducting contact tracing to learn more about these positive results. Based on the preliminary information that has been gathered, we are taking the following actions:
- All residents of Benedict and Dobson Halls (where we have seen a significant number of positive results) have been placed under a precautionary quarantine. That will stay in place at least until the individual tests come back from Upstate Medical.
- Harrison Dining Hall will be closing to campus until further notice. It will be used to prepare meals for those in quarantine and isolation. All other dining facilities remain open as scheduled.
- In-person activities (outside of classroom instruction) have been restricted to 10 people.
It is important to note that we are not seeing in-classroom transmission. New York State, SUNY, and SUNY Brockport remain committed to delivering a safe, high-quality educational experience to our students. Our mitigation strategies, especially the use of mandatory face coverings and social distancing, have kept our classrooms safe, and all regularly scheduled in-person classes will continue.
We must exercise that same diligence outside of the classroom, including in student residences. It is important to note that students are only permitted to host one guest per resident — whether they reside on or off campus – and anyone violating this policy will be subject to student conduct procedures. All members of our campus community must wear a face covering at all times unless alone in their residence or office.
We are committed to offering a vibrant experience for our students. That experience is contingent on our collective efforts to Protect the Nest. Please wear your face coverings, wash your hands, socially distance, and avoid large gatherings of any kind. It is important that we protect one another from this pandemic, and just as important that we understand this can be a trying time for many of us. Please know that the mental health of our students, faculty, and staff is top of mind, and there are resources for anyone in need.
Together, we can have another safe and successful semester.
Kind regards,
President Macpherson